Chapter 14 - The Safe Richard Left Behind
Mara blocked Ethan from the door.
“Who called himself my father?”
Ethan’s face tightened.
“I don’t know.”
“You reacted.”
“Because I know someone visited Margaret.”
“Who?”
“He used an alias.”
“What alias?”
“David Ellison.”
Mara went still.
Her legal father’s name.
The man Elena said died before Mara could remember him.
Mara’s throat tightened.
“My father was real.”
“Yes.”
“You met him?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“Thirteen years ago.”
“Before my modeling career.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Outside Margaret’s care facility.”
Mara stared.
“Why were you there?”
“Following Graham.”
“Did Graham know my father?”
“Yes.”
Of course.
Julian said, “What happened to David?”
Ethan looked at Mara.
“Officially?”
She laughed without humor.
“Please don’t.”
“Carjacking in Newark.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
“I never believed it.”
“Why?”
“Because his body was cremated before Elena arrived.”
Mara’s skin went cold.
Another questionable death.
Another missing person.
Julian’s phone rang.
Federal investigator.
Graham charged initially on fraud, obstruction, evidence tampering, and conspiracy while larger matters developed.
Celeste had entered cooperation discussions.
The planted bracelet footage was preserved.
Mara’s theft accusation was dead.
None of it mattered right then.
Her father might not have been.
Evelyn drove them to Connecticut.
Private care residence.
No Vale name.
No public connection.
Margaret sat near a window.
Silver hair.
Thin hands.
Blue blanket over her knees.
Mara stopped at the doorway.
The room disappeared.
The old woman looked up.
Her eyes moved to Mara’s locket.
Her hand began shaking.
“Elena?”
Mara’s throat closed.
“No.”
She walked closer.
“I’m Elena’s daughter.”
Margaret stared.
Then whispered:
“Mara.”
Mara froze.
“How do you know my name?”
Margaret reached toward her face.
Mara knelt.
The old woman touched her cheek.
“Your mother brought you.”
“When?”
“You were little.”
“How little?”
Margaret smiled faintly.
“Four.”
Mara’s eyes filled.
“That’s impossible.”
“No.”
“I would remember.”
“You were asleep.”
Margaret looked past her.
At Ethan.
Her face changed.
Fear.
Recognition.
Mara stood.
“What?”
Margaret whispered:
“He came too.”
Ethan went pale.
Mara turned.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Margaret before Elena died.”
“Yes.”
Margaret gripped Mara’s wrist.
“Not him.”
Mara frowned.
“What?”
Margaret pointed past Ethan.
At Julian.
No.
Then toward the hallway.
An older man stood there.
Tall.
Weathered.
A scar beside his mouth.
Evelyn gasped.
The man looked at Mara.
Margaret whispered:
“David.”
Mara stopped breathing.
May you like
Her father was alive.
CUT.
